By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
A retired warrant officer with the Nigerian Army, Chief Johnson Nzei has suggested for the federal and state governments to recruit retired soldiers into their respective security networks in order to achieve the objectives of combating insecurity and terrorism in the country.
Cheif Nzei was fielding questions from Journalists in Kwale on the current security situation in the country and the ways out.
He explained that soldiers both serving and retired were professionally trained for warfare, which he said Nigerians were suffering from in the hands of Boko-haram, Bandits and other terrorist groups.
Chief Nzei noted further that ‘’only the trained soldiers are professionally skilled and fit to confront the armed terrorists, Bandits or kidnappers so I will advise the federal and state governments to look back and integrate these retired soldiers who are wasting their fighting skills and expertise at home while insecurity is enveloping our country and localities” he said.
Speaking further, the ex-warrant officer lamented over what he called total neglect of the retired soldiers, saying that military is a unique word, expressing dissatisfaction with poor and neglective treatment of the retired officers at the local government levels. ‘’They are not remembering us, no money paid to us, no uniform and office accommodation for us” he cried out.
Chief Nzei stated that the retired soldiers were disciplined and physically trained, but do not contend with natural impacts of old age, therefore called for alternatively employing them for monthly sustainable salaries, free medical treatments, as well as award of scholarship to their children, as majority of them were financially incapable to send their children to higher schools with their meager pension monthly stipends.
Answering other questions Chief Nzei advised members of Nigerian legion in the area not to depend solely on their monthly pension allowances, noting that they were physically and mentally trained to withstand all situations.
He requested them to engage meaningfully in productive activities that could keep life on even after their retirement.
